The government’s target was for a primary budget surplus - which excludes debt-servicing costs - of 3.57 billion euros for the first eight months of the year.

The central government surplus excludes the budgets of social security organizations and local administration. It is different from the figure monitored by Greece’s EU/IMF lenders but indicates the state of the country’s finances.

The government is aiming for a general government primary budget surplus of 1.9 percent of GDP this year, based on its medium term fiscal strategy plan. The bailout target is for a primary surplus of 1.75 percent of GDP. (Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas)